erry riders may experience fewer cancelled ferry runs, says the state Department of Transportation, after a new second ramp is built this year at the Cherry Branch side of the Neuse ferry route.

On Monday, the North Carolina Department of Transportation announced that work could begin as soon as January 28. The 1.4 million dollar project will build a ramp that is longer than the one currently in place on that side of Neuse River ferry route.

The relatively shorter ramp at Cherry Branch has been unable to load or unload vehicles when the Neuse River water levels were too high or too low.

Having a longer ramp is expected to avoid such shutdowns. As the press release from DOT put it, the longer ramp will “enhance the ability to not suspend operations during low and high water issues.”

A Virginia Beach construction company, Marine Contracting Corporation, has been tapped for the project, which could start on January 28. Completion is set for September 14.

Ferry traffic is not expected to be affected while the work is underway, according to DOT. Construction will take place only at Cherry Branch, not at Minnesott Beach on the other side of the Neuse River ferry route.

Here is the press release sent out on Monday.

NCDOT Awards $1.4 Million Contract to Build Second Ramp and Gantry at Cherry Branch Ferry Dock

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Transportation awarded a contract to build a second ramp and support at the Cherry Branch terminal in Havelock.

The $1.4 million contract was awarded to Marine Contracting Corp. of Virginia Beach, Va. Work can begin Jan. 28 and is scheduled for completion by Sept. 15.

This project will allow for the use of a second ramp in the event of a malfunction with the current ramp. The new ramp will be longer and enhance the ability to not suspend operations during low and high water issues.

There will be no disruption of service to the Cherry Branch-Minnesott Ferry route due to construction.

This is one of 23 contracts totaling $145.7 million awarded by NCDOT in December for highway and bridge projects across North Carolina. NCDOT awarded the contracts to the lowest bidders, as required by state law. The bids received on the projects awarded came in about 9.8 percent, or $15.8 million, below NCDOT estimates.

A story about the ferry needs a ferry photo. It’s the ferry “Floyd J Lupton” heading down the channel to the Cherry Branch terminal.